Ariana Garcia, Ph.D., (she/her) is a higher education scholar, researcher, and practitioner. Her research focuses on the experiences of students of color in higher education, particularly the systemic inequities they face within graduate education and STEM fields. Her dissertation examined how Latinx graduate students navigate basic needs insecurity, highlighting the structural barriers that impact their graduate education.

Ariana brings a strong background in higher education administration, having served in diverse roles including institutional assessment, scholarship program coordination, and academic advising. She currently works on an Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded research project that examines the impact and implementation of Nevada’s Corequisite and College Ready Gateway Policy.